• CAO TR019

• Course Overview
• Programme Structure
• German Law Modules
• Programme Outcomes
• European Credit Transfers
• Contacts
• Admission

 

Bachelor in Law and German

Course Overview

With continuing European integration and an increasing globalisation of legal matters, there is a need for lawyers with a trans-national education. The Law and German degree at Trinity College Dublin satisfies these needs as students graduate with a grounding in Irish law, fluent in a second European language and with a thorough knowledge of the legal system of Germany and a real insight and knowledge of the general culture, political, economic and sociological make-up of Germany. Law and a language students study a slightly modified course, thus enabling them to combine the study of law with that of their chosen language. During the first two years of the course they study four law subjects per year, as well as integrated language, civilisation and German law courses. Students are also prepared for the third year abroad. The third year is spent studying legal or legal related subjects at a University in Germany. Alongside legal subjects, students participate in integrated language classes. The language component of each programme is integrated so that language skills are developed in the context of studying the general, as well as the specifically legal, culture of the country concerned. The Law and German programme is taught over four years with a compulsory year abroad.

The German component in the Law and German degree programme is designed

(i) to train students to acquire the greatest possible fluency in the German language,

(ii) to introduce students to the methods of analysis proper to a modern language discipline and

(iii) to familiarise students with the German legal system and its terminology, and to give them a clear grasp of the cultural context in which the German legal system has developed and operates.

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Special Entry Requirements: HC1 German Leaving Certificate
Grade C German Advanced GCE (A-Level)

Programme Structure

In the Freshman (first two) years you will study a variety of legal subjects. In each semester, you will have two Irish law modules, with three hours of lectures in each per week. These law modules (also taught on the LL.B. degree programme) include The Irish legal system, Torts, Constitutional law I, Criminal law, Contract law, Land law, Private law remedies and statutes and regulatory law. These lectures are complemented by compulsory law seminars (4 per module) and modules in legal skills in the Junior Freshman (first) year and mooting (mock trials) in the Senior Freshman (second) year. Law and language students also study the constitutional and civil law of their chosen jurisdiction. Alongside their law modules, students take integrated modules on language and civilisation, covering aspects of sociology, legal systems and politics. Lectures, tutorials and listening comprehension work are all involved.

Junior Freshman (1st Year) Modules

Law Modules

• The Irish Legal System (10 ECTS) (Semester 1)
• Constitutional Law (10 ECTS) (Semester 1)
• Criminal Law (10 ECTS) (Semester 2)
• Contract (10 ECTS) (Semester 2)
• Introduction to the German Legal System (10 ECTS) (all year)

German Modules

• German Area Studies (Landeskunde) (5 ECTS all year)
• German Textual Analysis (5 ECTS all year)
• German Language (10 ECTS all year)

Senior Freshman (2nd Year) Modules

Law Modules

• Tort (10 ECTS) (Semester 1)
• Land Law (10 ECTS) (Semester 1)
• Private Law Remedies (10 ECTS) (Semester 2)
• Equity (10 ECTS) (Semester 2)
• German Civil Law (10 ECTS all year)

German Modules

• German Cultural History (5 ECTS all year)
• German Language (10 ECTS all year)

Junior Sophister Year (3rd Year)

• Compulsory Exchange Year Abroad

Senior Sophister Year (4th Year)

• For details of Law Modules please consult the LL.B. Sophister Modules page

Compulsory German Law Modules

• German Law/German EU Law (5 ECTS) (all year)

Compulsory German Law Modules

• German Language (10 ECTS) (all year)
• German Translation (5 ECTS) (all year)

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Junior Freshman German Law Modules

See also the LL.B. module descriptions here, for details of the German module outlines, please visit the Germanic Studies website)

Introduction to the German Legal System: (LA1020) 10 ECTS

This is a course designed to provide Law and German Junior Freshman students with an introduction to the German legal system with an emphasis on German constitutional law. Topics covered include the German constitutional history, German legal methods, but also the state organs as well as the protection of human rights.

Learning Outcomes:

Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to:

• Identify the differences between German public and private law
• Understand the civil law system and identify the differences to the Common Law system
• Identify the structure and key elements of the German Constitution
• Analyse and understand the structure of the state institutions and their interconnection in the political process
• Explain the role of basic and human rights, both from a philosophical-historical and a German constitutional perspective
• Solve cases following the procedures provided in the Basic Law
• Discuss problems and the key jurisdiction of German Constitutional Law
• Present and discuss problems of German Constitutional Law orally and in a Hausarbeit

Senior Freshman Modules

See also the LL.B. module descriptions here, for details of the German module outlines, please visit the Germanic Studies website)

German Civil Law: (LA2004) 10 ECTS

This is a course designed to provide Law and German Senior Freshman students with an introduction to German civil law. Topics covered include general principles of German civil law and the structure of the German civil code BGB. The emphasis will be on contracts while an introduction to torts and the law of property will be given. Basic problem-solving skills as well as an overview over the legal education in Germany will also be covered. 

Learning Outcomes:

Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to:

• Explain the principles of Civil/Private Law
• Identify the structure and content of the German Civil Code
• Discuss and analyse the difference between Gutachten- and Urteilsstil
• Apply the German Civil Code using the Gutachtenstil
• Conduct effective research in commentary books and online on the respective German sources
• Research problems of German civil law and presenting it in a Hausarbeit
• Discuss problems of German civil law and comparing the findings to Irish law
• Understand the role of the courts and jurisdiction for German civil law

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Junior Sophister Year Abroad

Senior Sophister Year

Senior Sophister Modules

(for information on Law modules please consult the LLB Sophister Modules page

German Law European Law: (LA4002) 5 ECTS

This is a course designed to provide Law and German Senior Sophister students with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge in German and European Law. Students will give presentations of German and European law topics in a German context. The lectures cover German problem-solving approaches, German constitutional, administrative, civil and criminal law.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the historical development of the German legal system
• Explain and discuss current questions of German Constitutional Law and European Law in a historical, philosophical and legal context
• Identify the general principles of European Union Law and the relation to German Constitutional Law including the respective jurisdiction;
• Present complex legal subjects in German orally and in writing and contextualize the topics both politically and socially
• Identify, formulate and address key research questions into two particular aspects of German/European law and present them in a Seminararbeit

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Programme Outcomes:

Having successfully completed this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a high level of oral, aural and written proficiency in the German language, including the ability to give oral presentations on and to discuss freely general and legal topics, and to produce a variety of written text types in the target language to a high standard of accuracy and fluency;
• Integrate critical linguistic and cultural awareness with the appropriate knowledge and strategies to deal creatively and ethically with challenges in communication in social and professional settings;
• Evaluate critically the German legal environment and institutions and to place these in their historical context;
• Evaluate, synthesise and present legal arguments in a structured, reasoned and coherent way in both written and oral modes in the target language;
• Demonstrate a capacity for critical reflection and judgement in the light of evidence and argument;
• Work effectively as an individual and in teams in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural settings;
• Demonstrate flexibility, adaptability and independence in order to engage productively with a changing social, cultural and technological environment and with a capacity to move effectively within and between cultures.
• Identify, formulate and address key research questions;
• Engage in life-long learning, including in practitioner, academic or other fields.

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European Credit Transfers

Students reading for any law degree at Trinity College Dublin must study 240 ECTs over the duration of the four years. Generally this entails 60 ECTs per year. The breakdown of credits for Law and Language students differs from other degrees, due in part to the compulsory year abroad. Students on these programmes will complete their 240 ECTS over the four year period but each year does not carry equal credits.

The ECTS weighting for a module is a measure of the student input or workload required for that module, based on factors such as the number of contact hours, the number and length of written or verbally presented assessment exercises, class preparation and private study time, classes, and examinations. There is no intrinsic relationship between the credit volume of a module and its level of difficulty.

In Trinity College Dublin, 1 ECTS unit is defined as 20-25 hours of student input so a 10-credit module will be designed to require 200-250 hours of student input including class contact time, private study and assessments.

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Course Contacts

• Law and Language Course Directors (Law and French): Niamh Connolly, Telephone (01) 896 3670; Email: law.and.french at tcd.ie
• Law and Language Course Directors (Law and German): Bilun Mueller, Telephone (01) 896 1997; Email: bilun.mueller at tcd.ie
• German Language Lecturer: Katrin Eberbach; Telephone (01) 896 3469; Email eberback at tcd.ie

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